Avoid the cut flowers

If you can possibly get away with it, avoid buying and giving cut flowers — unless they’re from your own garden. If you can’t get away with it, look for locally grown flowers that are in season. This almost certainly means no roses.

**How this helps**

There’s plenty to love about cut flowers, but the story behind the dozen roses is often far from pretty. Heated greenhouses, pesticides and transportation often contribute to the heavy environmental footprint of the Valentine’s Day bouquet.